Wheel construction



Aug. 30, 1932. E, E, EINFELDT 1,874,943

WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 31, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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v r ATTORNEYS,

UNITED STATES Patented Aug. .30, 1932 PATENT" "OFFICE, I

ERNEST n. E'INFELDI, or

nnvnnron'r, mm, ASSIGNOR T0 FRENCH & PORATED, A CORPORATION or IOWA Hnonr, moon- WHEEL consrnucrron Original application filed Oc tober 31,

This invention relates to wheels, more particularly for use on farm and agricultural implements, tractors and similar machines, one of the Objects being to provide for the use 'in connection with a wheel having a narrow rim or tread,'or in connection with a wheel having .a so-called open mm, which two kinds of rims are adaptable for use more particularly on comparatively firm ground, a supplemental or outer rim applicable at will to said rims to adapt the wheel to travel on soft or sandy soil. A further object of the inventionis to provide in the use of said supplemental rim, means whereby to adjust the Fig. 1 is an elevation of a wheel partly in section having my invention embodied therei Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the same on the line 22'of Fig. 1, and showing the supplemental or outer rim adjusted relatively to the inner 'rim to give a vehicle equipped with such wheels a relatively wide trac; a v

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the supplemental or outer rim in a different position of adjustment to give a narrower track to the vehicle;

Fig. 4c is a diagrammatic plan view showing two wheels and a connecting axle, with the supplemental rims adjusted relative to the inner rims, as shown in Fig. 2, in order to give the vehicle a relatively wide track;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the supplemental rim adjusted as shown in Fig. 3 to give the vehicle anarrower track;

Referring to the drawings:

The improved supplemental rim 1 is illustrated as applied to a wheel 2, provided with 1929, Serial No. 403,735. Dividedand this application filed June 26,1930; Serial No. 463,899. v

on moderately firm ground, and not so soft' securedifi'erent tracti've effects, one position, with the-curved flange extending radially a so-called open rim 3 of the specific form shown in my copending application filed October 31st, 1929, Serial No. 403,735, of which the present application is a division, and to which original application reference may be had for a more detailed description of saidfopen rim than is here given, since the present invention is concerned with the detailed form andmanner of application of the "supplementalTrim, per se, which is applicable to other forms'of rims than that herein specifically illustrated. I

On reference to Figspl and2, it will be seen that the wheel therein shown consists 1 of a hub" 4;, spokes 5 of flat form, and the 'rim 3, made up of two annular plates6 spaced apart by the outer folded'ends of the spokes,

-which folded ends are seated-between said plates and are fastened firmly theret'o'byrivets 7 extending throughthe plates and the folded ends of the spokes between them. 70 This form and arrangement of'the parts produces a wheel with a narrow rim of the socalled open type, and is adapted for use that the narrow rim will sink unduly there- 1n. u 7

As disclosed in said application, there are employed inconnection with a rim of this, specific form, traction cleats each in the form of a flat base plate 8 of general triangular form having at one end a curved flange 8*.

said'base plate being provided with a number of bolt holes which adapt the cleat to be fastened to the rim in different positions to and beyondtheperimeter of 'therim so as to act with the maximum tractive effect, and another position, with the curved flange extending circumferentially or flush with the perimeter of-the rim, to act with a modified tractive effect, and give the rim a more extended tread surface. u

In ,Figs. 1, 2 and 3, these cleats are shown in the last mentioned adjusted relation to the rim 3, and in this position they lendthemselves very elfectivelyto the application to said rim of my improved outer or supplemental rim 1, which is shown as being of considerably greater width than the inner rim 3, and as encircling said inner rim and supportedat intervals by the flush curved flanges of the cleats. This rim 1 may be formed in any desired manner, either of a single piece of material, .or of-a number of sections secured together in any suitable 'manner, according to whether the rim is -flangelees or .is :provided withaedgeiflanges as shown. Conveniently,,itmayi'he madenp of two semi-circular flanged sections, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and these sections bolted to the rim of the inner Wheel.

The outenri-in l is adapted to bedetachably fastened to the inner rim 3 in any suitable manner which will admit :of its application or removal at will. 'Int'hepresehtinstance it is secured by means of a plurality of fastening elements in'the form of bolts 9', the shanks of which extend radially between the annular plat-es hot the inner rim 3 I and through holes .10 in the outerrim, and

are provided at their outer ends with heads 11 hearing against the outer side of the outer rim. At their inner ends, saidshanlrs are provided with clamping nuts 12 which bear against suitable washers or anchor plates 13 seated against the .inner edges of the two annular rim plates 6.

T-his outer rim isfadapted .to be fastened to the inner rim in .difierent positions axial- ,l'y ot/the wheel, .in order vto give the vehicle 1 or ,machine whose wheels are equipped with .such rims, different widths of track. To effiect this object, the outer or supplemental rim is provided with two series Hand '15 of the holes 10, the holes of which series are spaced at suitable intervals around the rim, but Whichser-ies are spaced from each other in an axial direction, as shown in F gs. ,1

' than its outer edge, the other series oi bolt :holes 15 being used [for this adjustment in order to give the vehicle a narrower track.

These effectsare best, illustrated in Figs.

4 and 5, Fig. ashowing the supplemental rims the inner rim, as provided for by the different adjustments described, the track of the vehicle may be readilyvaried to meet'the' conditions and requirementsencountered in practice. g ,c 7 1 z 7 By the use of the invention above described, a narrow wheel rim, or an'open' 'typeo't wheel rim, may be readily converted into .a wide, tor. .into av rclosedvitypezof:rim and by theaiseotmy improved supplemental outer rim adjustable axially of theinner rim,

the track of a vehicle may be changed as desired and to meetthe requirements oipractice.

The improved outer rim has-been shown and described :as applied to aninner rim of a specificformias disclosed in my said original copending application, .since a rim of the specific form shown insaid application lends itself very effectively .to the application of the supplemental rim; It will Ebe' manifest however to the skilled mechanic that the, invention is not limited tou-se connection with an innerrim oi the particular form disclosed, but is applicableito other forms of wheels and inner ,rims, and wherever the conditions are such :as to require'the use lot a supplemental or outer rim of .my proved type. .j'The 'invention'is therefore not limited to any particular'form or constr.uc-

tion of "the parts, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claim.

vHaving thus described my invention, what I claim is f V i In combination with a wheel provided a series of'traction cleats applied to the outer side of one of said rim members, said cleats being each ,characterized by a laterally extending 'fiange curved circumferentially to.

conform to and extend substantially flush with the periphery of said rim members, an outer ,rim surrounding said rim members and bearing on said curved flanges of the cleats, and fastening bolts for detach-ably secuning said outer rim to the annular rim members, the shanks of said fastening "bolts extending between the annular rim members.

[In testimony "whereof, this specification has been duly signed by:

, V ERNEST EINFELDT.

adjusted on the inner rims of the -two wheels 7 to the position shown in Fig. 2 to give the vehicle a relatively wide track, while Fig. 5 shows the outer rims adjusted on the inner rims inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, in order to give thevehicle a narrower track. It is evident therefore that by shifting the outer rim axially with reference "to .100- with a pair of spaced .annular rim members, 

